September 29, 2023 -- Psalm 42:1-2 -- The Psalm Series: Flowing streams of Living Water

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

As the deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalm 42:1-2 ESV

Some of you may be familiar with the couple-decades-ago popular Christian song “As the Deer”. It is a cheery song that starts with the opening words of Psalm 42. Perhaps you sense there might be a disconnect between a light-hearted tune paired with the urgent tone of these verses? I sure do.

The writer of this Psalm has chased after other things and realized they can never satisfy him. Nothing else can quench his thirst. Or, he may have been pursued by his temptations like a deer is chased by hunter. He is exhausted. He is realizing that nothing else can satisfy except God, the Living and Holy One. He alone is great refuge for those who are haunted by past temptations. He Who made us knows exactly what we need for life and godliness and satiation.

In the New Testament Jesus describes Himself as Living Water. He met a woman who’d had many men. Jesus pointed out she is living with a man not her husband (John 4:18). She’d been thirsty and hoping that sexual satisfaction might fill the void in her life. Jesus revealed Himself to her as the Savior of the World. In this context Jesus shows He is greater than our need for sexual satisfaction, greater than our need for food (John 4:34). She believed Him. She told the townsfolk about Jesus and many followed her back to Jesus.

There is a great thirst among the people of this world. Even Christians can get side-tracked and try to satisfy their longings with anything and anyone other than Jesus. Our passage today reminds us that our soul is truly thirsting for Jesus. He is living water. If this seems hopeful and attractive to you, it is His Spirit calling you back to Jesus. Listen. Get advice from a Christian whose walk you respect.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Thank You for the probing nature of Your Word which illuminates the condition of our heart so that Your Spirit can reveal our deepest and truest need, Jesus. Forgive us for the times and ways in which we try to satisfy our longings with other things: sex, alcohol, anger, shopping, pride, or whatever other idols our hearts manufacture. Thank You for Your Spirit Who pursues us and will not let us get away from You, but by our very longings and thirsts brings us back to Jesus. As our thirsts are quenched in Him, help us then to invite others to Jesus, the flowing stream of living water. Amen.

https://youtu.be/sXgCi5mhRYM?si=VFmuPDLoI7vlETEN “Whiter than Snow”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.